HIV-positive migrants’ experience of living in Sweden

Abstract

Background: There is a limited knowledge of the impact of being human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive on migrants living in Sweden. It is therefore important to gain a general awareness of this issue in order to maintain the wellbeing of this vulnerable group of patients and to develop an adequate social support network. Objective: The aim of this study was to explore HIV-positive migrants' experiences of their life situations, living in Sweden. Method: A qualitative, exploratory study was performed using semi-structured interviews with 14 HIV-positive migrants, aged 29-55 years, and analyzed with qualitative content analysis. The participants were recruited from three clinics for infectious diseases in western Sweden. Results:The results are presented in the following three categories:´Vulnerability in social relationships', 'Fear of disclosure", and 'Resilience'. The results illustrated the participants' experiences of vulnerability in their social relationships, fear of disclosing HIV status, feeling lonely and stigmatized, and lacking social network and support. Furthermore, the results illustrated participants' challenges in finding a partner, due to their fear of being recognized because of their HIV-infection. However, the result indicated participants' struggling for a normal life with integrity, and that their need to look positively at life. Conclusions: In the actual study loneliness, fear of disclosure, perceived stigma, and the lack of a social network had significant impact on the life situations of the HIV positive migrants. Fear of disclosure and the challenge of finding a partner and friends were the main obstacles. It is crucial to increase access for these patients to supporting networks that will promote their empowerment and trust.

‘HIV ended up in second place’ − prioritizing social integration in the shadow of social exclusion: an interview study with migrants living with HIV in Sweden

“…Previous Swedish studies also show challenges faced by migrants in terms of health inequalities due to different living conditions and experiences, which place them in different social positions with different degrees of vulnerability. [20][21][22].…”

“…However, it was not possible to get a clear picture of how migrants living with HIV in Sweden assessed their quality of life. A subsequent qualitative study in Sweden, however, suggested that they experienced loneliness, fear of disclosing HIV status, stigma and lack of a social network [ 20 ]. Another interview study that aimed to describing the experiences of migrants living with HIV and their encounters with the Swedish health-care system, showed that they appreciated free access to ARV, but required more time with their doctors.…”

“Watch out for the boogieman”: stigma and substance use recovery among migrants and ethnic minorities

“…To obtain insight into the role of stigma in recovery experiences of MEM with substance use problems, we conducted 34 in‐depth interviews in Flanders (Belgium). Participants were recruited through venue‐based methods (Mehdiyar, Andersson, & Hjelm, 2020) and the following inclusion criteria were applied: (1) being 18+ of age (adult age limit in Belgium), (2) self‐identifying as person with a migration background and/or belonging to an ethnic minority, and (3) having personal experience with recovery from problem substance use. Interviews were conducted in Dutch ( n = 29), English ( n = 4) and French ( n = 1).…”

Recovery Capital among Migrants and Ethnic Minorities in Recovery from Problem Substance Use: An Analysis of Lived Experiences

“…In the study sample, we aimed to reflect the diversity of MEM in Flanders (Belgium) [ 23 ] through a purposive sampling strategy. Participants who self-identified as (1) having a migration and/or ethnic minority background and (2) being in recovery from problem substance use were recruited through venue-based methods [ 24 ] in Ghent and Antwerp (two ethnically diverse cities in Flanders). As MEM with substance use problems are considered a hard-to-reach population for research, we applied several strategies to overcome these barriers [ 25 , 26 ].…”

“…Interview questions focused on participants’ (1) patterns of substance use, (2) their recovery process, (3) barriers and facilitators for recovery, and (4) the role of having a MEM background in this process. The open-ended questions that were complemented with probing follow-up questions, encouraged participants to talk openly about their lived experiences, unfolding rich narrative data in which recovery resources (or the lack thereof) became clear [ 24 ]. The interviews were conducted in places chosen by the study participants, such as their home, a treatment setting, coffee bar or a public library, where they felt comfortable to disclose personal experiences.…”